The City Of El Paso, Texas - www.elpasotexas.gov

Healthy relationships are based on the belief that two people in a relationship are partners with equal rights to have their needs met and equal responsibility for the success of the partnership. In this equality belief system, violence is not an option because it violates the rights of one partner and jeopardizes the success of the relationship. The dignity of both partners is built up in a relationship based on equality.

Used by permission of the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project,
206 West Fourth Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55806
www.duluth-model.org

Non-Threatening Behavior

• Talking so that you feel safe and comfortable expressing yourself and doing things.
• Acting so that you feel safe and comfortable expressing yourself and doing things.

Respect

• Listening to you non-judgmentally.
• Valuing your opinions.
• Being emotionally affirming and understanding.

Trust and Support

• Respecting your right to have your own feelings, friends, activities, and opinions.
• Supporting your goals in life.

Honesty and Accountability

• Accepting responsibility for self.
• Acknowledging past use of violence.
• Admitting being wrong.
• Communicating openly and truthfully.

Responsible Parenting

• Being a positive, non-violent role model for the children
• Sharing parental responsibilities

Shared Responsibility

• Mutually agreeing on a fair distribution of work.
• Making family decisions together.

Economic Partnership

• Making money decisions together.
• Making sure both partners benefit from financial arrangements.

Negotiation and Fairness

• Seeking mutually satisfying resolutions to conflict.
• Accepting change.
• Being willing to compromise.